Middle-Class Identity

Definition

Middle-class identity refers to how individuals perceive themselves as part of a socioeconomic group that falls between working-class and upper-class status. It often includes aspirations for stability, financial security, education, and social respectability.

Related terms

Industrial Revolution: A period of rapid industrialization from roughly 1760 to 1840 that transformed economies and societies by introducing new manufacturing methods.

Consumer culture: A society focused on consumption where buying goods is seen as a key component of personal identity and social standing.

Victorian Era values: Values associated with Victorian-era America (1837-1901), such as hard work, thriftiness, moral rectitude, emphasis on family life, and societal expectations regarding gender roles.